An 80-bedroom hotel and restaurant proposal in East Kilbride has been given the go-ahead.

Planning permission in principle was granted to Fraser Property Company (Scotland) at a special meeting of South Lanarkshire Council’s planning committee yesterday.

The proposal focuses on an area adjacent to the A726 Queensway in Linwood Avenue, Peel Park, paving the way for a development which could breathe new life into a site that has been vacant for more than a decade.

Members at the committee were told that the proposed development would include:

They also heard that despite being classified for industrial land use, with marketing of the site taking place over a number of years, the site had remained undeveloped.

Pauline Elliott, the head of the council’s planning and economic development, said: “Despite attempts by the council to attract an industrial or business user to this site, so far no development has taken place. This application brings forward a proposal for which there is both an identifiable market, and which will allow this area of land to be brought into use.

“Staying visitors contribute to the local economy by spending money on hospitality, retail and leisure. Thus the hotel will not only contribute to direct job creation but will also help to support existing businesses in East Kilbride and the wider area.”